This Old [or New] House

[Gomig-21]

Even just in the Boston area it really depends upon the suburb. You can take the same house with the same lot size and pick it and move it into the town next door and the price can go up 700%.

Very true and I certainly know all about that, being my neck of the woods.

Speaking of basement renovations, there are certainly pluses to doing that since you add living space and naturally the value of the home goes up, but the drawback is (depending on the town or city), your homeowners insurance & property taxes take a considerable hit.

Building codes are also tricky when it comes to finishing basements or cellars since headroom is essential in having a "legally finished" basement because of state building codes. Here, a "legally finished" basement must be a minimum of 7 feet high, from finished floor to finished ceiling. That height is not as easily attainable as people might think because many homes were built in the 50's and earlier (certainly in NE as well as other older cities in the country) so basements weren't necessarily dug deep enough for a decent height. As a result, you tend to see a few people finish their basements off without pulling a permit since it won't meet the legal height requirement.

There's also the FAR (Floor Area Ratio) code which limits your allowable, habitable area in a house. That usually affects whether you can have a finished basement or even add an addition. It's based on the percentage of the floor area of the building to the lot size. The reason for that is they try not to have people go crazy and build a monster of a house on a small lot. So first you have to take into account the setback lines -- since you can only build up to a certain distance to the property lines (front, back and sides) -- then you have to stay within the allowable FAR. If the house is at or near the FAR with an unfinished basement, then you're not allowed to finish it. So besides the height, there's also this FAR requirement to meet. You'll see the FAR restriction come more into play in towns where homes are pretty much bunched up together, and only 10'-20' between one property and the other and they sit on a tiny lots. Suburban homes on larger lots tend not to have this problem and only the headroom code to deal with.

99% of Canada is unlivable Madmax style wasteland of snow and trees. There is a reason 93!!!% of Canada's population is less than 160 km of the US border. Canada is literally full, no room left.

But you have hockey and Molson beer, though, so most Canadians are all set, ey.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Building codes are also tricky when it comes to finishing basements or cellars since headroom is essential in having a "legally finished" basement because of state building codes. Here, a "legally finished" basement must be a minimum of 7 feet high, from finished floor to finished ceiling.

I think the rules aren't as strict in my town/state. I don't think they can actually refuse a permit to finish your basement even if your ceiling was 1 foot off the ground. I never checked it out but my neighbor finished his basement (during a huge addition job) and he said because the ceilings were so low it disqualified it from inclusion in the brand new square footage (and with a slight grin from him..his taxes). His house was built over 50 years s ago when having a minimum ceiling height wasn't on the builder's radar. Even if it was I bet he would make sure to put in a drop ceiling just low enough to exclude him (lol and then have a button to raise it on demand).

Hmm...average room ceiling height...I guess I'll sneak that in.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2016/08/15/builders-raise-roof-ceiling-heights-rise

Builders Raise the Roof: Ceiling Heights Rise

Developers are finding that buyers have a passion for higher ceilings, and they're taking them beyond the standard eight-feet in luxury residences. More builders are now promoting ceiling heights of 11, 12, and even 20 feet. They’re finding that buyers are willing to pay a premium for the extra height too.

Just how much? Realtor.com®’s research team found that raising ceiling height to 10 or 11 feet from the standard height of eight to nine feet led to an average 50 percent jump in average listing price per square foot. The highest premium was for ceilings between 12 and 15 feet, which saw an average 76 percent boost per square foot than units with standard heights. On the other hand, taller ceilings – higher than 15 feet – saw the smallest premium at 28 percent higher than standard ceilings.

Realtor.com®’s research team analyzed more than 2,300 condos priced at $750,000 or more in New York, Illinois, Southern California, Massachusetts, and South Florida. Researchers found that New York City condos saw the largest premiums from 12-feet-but-below-15-feet ceilings. The average premium was $3,700 a square foot – or 150 percent higher than those with standard ceilings. (But note: Condos with 12-foot ceilings also tend to be in newer towers that feature greater amenities too.)

“The smaller the apartment, the [smaller] the impact of tall ceilings,” says Jonathan Miller, an appraiser in New York. But too tall can make apartments feel claustrophobic, he adds.

----------------------------------

They are correct about claustrophobic in small areas. I had a friend with an old home that I think had 12 foot ceilings. They had this narrow hallway and wow did it feel weird walking down it.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/popular-home-styles_n_6460034.html

The 10 Home Styles That Are Most Popular Around America

If you’re in the market to buy a house (or about to begin), you’re likely to be engaging in a crash course in home styles. Do you go Craftsman, which, according to Houseplans.com, continue to be among the most popular style of home sold in the third quarter of 2014? Or go Traditional, which is more popular in the Northeast, Midwest and Mountain region. Meanwhile, the Southwest seems to favor Ranch-styles.

Why, though, are Craftsman homes so popular? “The Craftsman is all about a boxy nature and reviving beautiful decorative art. It’s well-designed, well-crafted,” Marika Snider, of Snider Architecture, and a member of the American Institute of Architects‘ Custom Residential Architects Network, told The Huffington Post.

But let’s back up a second. What do all of these home style terms mean exactly? How do you tell a Modern home from a Southern home, for instance? Or a European from a Mediterranean? Luckily, Snider broke it all down for us so you’ll never have to wonder again.

• 1 Craftsman style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  According to Snider, Craftsman style homes are reminiscent of the early 20th century arts and crafts movement. The arts and crafts movement began as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution; artists and designers sought a return to uniquely-crafted decorative arts in a time when most things were becoming heavily mass-produced. Craftsman homes feature exteriors that are usually a combination of stone and wood. The houses are often bungalows but may be of any shape so long as they emphasize a relationship with nature and the craft of construction.

• 2 Country style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  Country style homes are mostly likely an update of the popular “Colonial style.” The colonial home is — you guessed it — influenced by 18th century colonists bringing European styles with them. They’re probably most recognizable for featuring two windows on either side of the front door and five windows on top, with the middle window directly above the door. Country houses aspire to be warm and inviting. They generally have wide porches, shutters, dormers, and wood detailing, according to Snider.

• 3 Traditional style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  A Traditional style house is similar to Country style. Traditional houses differ from Country houses in that they pay more attention to historically accurate details than trying to create simple charm, says Snider.

• 4 European style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  European style homes typically evoke styles from France, Italy and sometimes England. There’s an emphasis on elements looking old but durable, such as plaster walls, marble or high-quality stone floors, and massive fireplaces. European exteriors may include complicated rooflines, stone, and even copper roof elements.

• 5 Ranch style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Bud Dietrich, HFD Architects
  Ranch homes are a regional style from the West and Southwest but are now found throughout the country. Originally used as housing on ranches, the term has come to mean any single story house, Snider explains. Because the entire house is on one floor, Ranch houses can be sprawling. The Ranch house became the quintessential modern house in the 1950s and ‘60.

• 6 Farmhouse style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  Farmhouses are found throughout much of the country. The foundations are rectangles usually with one or more additions; roof lines are also simple. Farmhouses follow many 19th century designs, including tall, narrow windows laid out for cross breeze, large porches, wood siding, and may even include a metal roof.

• 7 Cottage style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  Cottages are smaller houses or bungalows with details that evoke the 1920s, when a typical cottage would have a generous front porch, with a second story typically tucked into the attic. According to Snider, the interior might include built-ins like window seats, display cases or dining booths. The Cottage style is similar to the Craftsman except that the details are simpler, less expensive, and the woodwork is usually painted.

• 8 Modern style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  Modern homes reference a style popular in the 1950s and ‘60s. Modern houses use flat or lower slope roofs, horizontal windows and large, undecorated fireplaces. They embrace the horizontality of the landscape and automobile culture. Modern houses eschew fussy details and often employ high-quality materials such as marble, wood floors/paneling, and stone, Snider said. The overall effect creates clean lines..

• 9 Southern style
  
  
  
  Courtesy of Houseplans.com
  The Southern style home is a regional style developed in reaction to the hot, humid Southern climate. Southern houses typically include elements to take advantage of cool breezes such as elevated main living levels, wrap-around porches, large operable shutters, wide roof overhands and verandas. Southern style homes might also have 19th century details found in Plantation houses like monumental columns at the entrance, Snider adds.

• 10 Mediterranean style
  
  
  
  Mediterranean style houses evoke homes in southern Spain, France, and Italy. They typically focus on patios, courtyards and verandas as ways to extend the house outdoors. The outside of these homes usually have few details and have plaster walls. Roofs are flat or low slope and might be tiled, says Snider. The interior detailing is simple and may include decorative tile or exposed wood beams.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Video examples of the above home styles.
(BTW I've tried to find examples of "average" sized homes to match what a "typical" American home living experience is like. This can be difficult as most videos of homes are well over 3000 sq ft. So it requires some extensive searching.)

1 Craftsman home

2 [French] Country Style home

3 Traditional Style Home

4 European Style

5 Ranch

6 Farmhouse style

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

7 Cottage Style

8 Modern Style

9 Southern Style

10 Mediterranean Style

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The 1970's phasing out of unattractive residential window air conditioning units common since the 1950's. Switching to multi-zoned central air conditioning.

Starting around 1950 (by 1953 window A/C sales were 1Million units/yr) it became a common sight to see rows and rows of cooling units hanging outside the windows of homes/apartments in every direction you turned. Unfortunately it was not very attractive and multiple units had to be used to cool an entire living space. (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a7951/a-brief-history-of-air-conditioning-10720229/)

1950's commercial for a window A/C in every room.

In the 1970's whole house multi-zone central air conditioning started taking hold.

Condenser/compressor in backyard instead of in multiple windows.

How residential central air conditioning systems work.

Air conditioning runs into every room (even walk in closets)

Whole house comfort no matter how hot it is outside.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The History of Coal Heating - [and it's demise after WW2 with a switch to Natural Gas/Oil/Electricity]

https://sunhomedesign.wordpress.com...istory-of-heating-and-cooling-americas-homes/

HOME HEATING IN AMERICA

For the first 100 years home heating in a heavily forested America was dominated by biomass (wood) and it was not until 1885 that the nation would burn more coal than wood. Prior to 1885 the majority of homes in America were heated with wood burning brick fireplaces and derivatives of the cast iron Franklin Stove invented in 1742.

Remnants of yesteryear in a remodeled older home. A fireplace that was used to burn wood for heating

Ben Franklin stove

By the end of the 19th century the invention of low cost cast iron radiators would bring central heating to America’s homes with a coal fired boiler in the basement delivering hot water or steam to radiators in every room.

In the !880's cast iron radiators brought heat into US homes. A coal furnace in the basement heated extremely hot water and pushed it through iron pipes that led to radiators in each room. Fireplaces usage started to phase out.

At about the same time, in 1885, Dave Lennox built and marketing the industry’s first riveted-steel coal furnace. Without electricity and fans to move air, these early furnaces transported heat by natural convection (warm heated air rising) through ducts from the basement furnace to the rooms above.

~1900 Instead of iron water pipes....ductwork carried warm air throughout the home.

These two methods would dominate home central heating until 1935, when the introduction of the first forced air furnace using coal as a heat source used the power of an electric fan to distribute the heated air through ductwork within the home.

Truck delivering coal to home through basement window in the 1930's.

Shortly thereafter, gas and oil fired versions of forced air furnaces would relieve the homeowners from the chore of “stoking the coal fire” and relegate coal furnaces and cast iron radiators to the dust bin of history.

1930's Homeowners having to shovel coal into a central heating system furnace.
Any alternative system which was more convenient had an immediate demand.

Residential heating by coal starting declining in the late 1940's.

Fast forward to today and about 60% of our homes are heated with gas fired forced air furnaces(FAU’s) and another 9% with oil fired FAU’s. In warmer climates, a quarter of our homes would be heated by FAU’s using electric “heat pumps” to supply both heating and cooling energy.
....

Natural Gas Central heating furnace

Your whole home can be warm no matter how cold and snowy it is outside.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

So why are some new homes in the US built with fireplaces and brick chimneys if they have central heating???

Screen capture from one of the videos in post #34. A fireplace is present. Why?

If a new home has a fireplace it is primarily for aesthetics versus being a way to heat the home. Most are actually natural gas with safety glass connected to a light switch or remote.

Nice effect! But it probably isn't being used to heat the entire house.

Natural Gas fireplace in action. The "wood" is fireproof.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-will-santa-do-fewer-homes-have-chimneys-2013-12-23
What will Santa do? Fewer homes have chimneys

On the night before Christmas, children will want to hang their stockings by the chimney with care. But what are good little girls and boys to do when their home has no chimney?

While fireplaces are a common feature in modern-day homes — even in warm climates — actual chimneys are becoming somewhat of a home-building relic.

Shutterstock
To get a sense of that trend, Trulia, a real-estate website, looked at homes listed on its website between January 2011 and June 2013. For homes built in the 2010s, fewer than 0.5 of every 1,000 home listings mentioned a chimney, according to the analysis. Meanwhile, about two out of every 100 listings for homes built at that time mentioned a fireplace. Chimneys are most common in homes built before 1900, while fireplaces experienced a bump in popularity in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Not all fireplaces need a chimney. As Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko pointed out, fireplaces in newer homes often will vent without a chimney. “In fact, the metros with the most fireplaces aren’t the metros with the most chimneys,” he wrote in a blog post.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

America's love affair with stone countertops (mostly granite)

Granite kitchen countertop

Granite Bathroom countertops

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stepha...has-cost-u-s-more-than-gulf-war/#ae66c542221d
Granite Countertop Craze Has Cost U.S. More Than First Gulf War

Your granite countertops are about to work overtime this Thanksgiving, so stop a moment to caress them a bit and consider the enormity of what's beneath their surface.

You may become unsettled.

First, recall that 15 years ago [22 years now as the was article posted in 2010], stone counters were a rarity in American kitchens. Now they're ubiquitous--de rigeur, even. Among real estate agents "The common shorthand phrase for a good kitchen is to say 'granite/stainless,'" says Jay Irwin, whose Irwin Design and Build installs counters in fancy homes around Washington, D.C.

I've got black granite countertops in my kitchen. The other night I was wiping them down when I began to wonder about the cost of it all. How many hectares of laminated counters have been ripped out of our homes in the past 15 years? How much have we spent to put all that shiny rock underneath our Showtime Rotisserie ovens?

So I phoned Michael Reis, the editor of the stone-countertop industry's leading magazine, Stone World. Reis and his colleagues do an annual survey of purchasing trends for the industry. Based on the data from the surveys, which Stone World has been conducting for nearly a decade, Reis figures we were spending $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion a year on stone counters before things slowed down in 2009.
.........

Granite can withstand insane heat

Granite can withstand steel knives

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The death of Linoleum/Vinyl floors [especially in the kitchen].

Linoleum/Vinyl used to be a common material for the floors of apartments. It was also common in homes - especially kitchens. It was cheap and does look nice when shined however it always carried the stigma of being the "poor man's" nice floor (ie it is made to closely look like real tile that somebody couldn't afford to install, etc)

1960's commercial about waxing linoleum/vinyl floors

Solid wood is the now the preferred choice for floors.

Shiny and smooth perfectly fitting .75inch/1.9cm thick Oak hardwood is the preferred flooring in the US now.

http://massrealestatenews.com/what-types-of-flooring-do-home-buyers-prefer/
WHAT TYPES OF FLOORING DO HOME BUYERS PREFER?

If you are looking to sell your home soon (or even a few years down the road), it’s helpful to know what buyers are searching for. I work with many new home buyers, so I see what they are doing before they move in. Trends and preferences may vary based on area of country and construction of home. These preferences are for the Northeast and Mid Atlantic states and focuses on single family homes (as opposed to apartments or rentals). I will start with overall trends, and then go room by room.

By far, the biggest preference is towards hardwood flooring. This should not come as no surprise to anyone, as it is not a new trend. This preference has been growing since the early 1980’s and became the preferred surface in the 1990’s, and it continues to grow year after year.

Realtors will confirm this, as this is often a requirement for the homes that many people look for, and some will screen homes out that don’t have hardwood. In a recent, unscientific survey I did on my site, 95% of consumers prefer hardwood for the common living areas (i.e. living room, dining room, and family room.)

So, if you have hardwood flooring and if it’s hiding underneath your carpet, by all means, rip up the carpet and refinish the hardwood floors. It will instantaneously improve the value of your home, and help it sell faster. If you can’t afford to do all of it, or if it’s too inconvenient, at least start with one room to show buyers what the wood could look like.

Even just removing the carpet to show the hardwood floors is a big step in the right direction. Many are pleasantly surprised by the relatively low cost of refinishing hardwood, so it’s usually an investment that gets a strong ROI (return on investment). And, it will help sell your house faster. Take a look as we examine what types of flooring home buyer’s prefer the most!

ROOM BY ROOM FLOORING PREFERENCES

Living room/dining room/family room – areas on the main level – By far, the preference here is for hardwood. No other surface even comes close. If you have hardwood in these areas, show it off. If you don’t have hardwood in the living room/dining room, I would strongly consider adding it. You will get your return on investment (assuming you have a plywood sub-floor…if you have concrete sub-floor it will be more expensive). Choose either very dark or very light floors, as these are the most stylish. And, satin finish is the most popular sheen.



Kitchens – Believe it or not, now hardwood is now the preferred flooring surface for kitchens. This is followed closely by tile. Hardwood is often preferred as it’s more in style, easier on your feet, makes space look larger and easier to clean.

Hardwood is often less expensive, too. You can read more about it in this article: Kitchen floors – hardwood vs. tile. But, either way, it should, if you are remodeling, hardwood or tile is the way to go w/ 90% of homeowners preferring one of these two surfaces (10% prefer laminate, vinyl, linoleum or cork).

If you are just preparing your home for sale, and/or not doing a full remodel, your choices may be limited due to height of cabinets and appliances, so definitely involve a flooring expert before your run into an issue where you might either lock your appliances in or worse yet find that they don’t fit.

If you are selling your house, I would recommend you consult with your Realtor and/or stager before making changes here. It is easy to spend a lot of money in the kitchen and not get back your return on investment.


Bedrooms – Homeowners seem to be split on this one. Slightly more than half (56%) prefer hardwood for the bedrooms and 44% prefer carpet. This preference often has been influenced by homeowner’s experiences growing up and whether they are concerned about their feet being cold in the morning. But, either way, virtually all home buyers will NOT keep the carpet you have in your bedrooms.

They will either replace them or they will add hardwood (or refinish if you have hardwood underneath the carpet). Buyers do not like to live with other people’s carpets as there are usually odors and/or germs in there…or a perception that they are present. They seem to be even more concerned if they have young kids and/or babies.

So, those carpets will get ripped up – one way or another. (Unless the homeowner has moved out and then installed new carpets…and this will be obvious as there will be no furniture marks on the carpet). A small percent of customers will clean them, but my guess is this is about 10% and rarely will those furniture marks come out.

So, what should you do if you have carpet in the bedroom and you are selling your house? This depends! And, it’s a good idea to consult your Realtor. If your carpet is in bad condition, and if it smells, it’s best to get rid of it somehow. Leaving dirty carpet in place will definitely hinder your sale, especially if there is a bad odor.

If you have hardwood underneath the carpet, rip up the carpet and refinish the hardwood. (BTW, this is usually LESS expensive than replacing it with carpet)…you can read more here: If you have hardwood underneath the carpet, is it better to refinish the wood or re-carpet? If you can’t afford to refinish the floors, at least rip up the carpet. This is a step in the right direction to improving the value and saleability of your home.

If you have plywood underneath the carpet, you may prefer to re-carpet as this will be less expensive than adding hardwood. Hardwood will often give you a better return on investment, but it will also cost you more. And, be sure that you consult your real estate agent as they will know the types of flooring used and preferred in your specific neighborhood.


Entryways – This one depends on the size of your entryway and how it flows with the rest of the home. More often than not, most new home buyers prefer to have wood in the entry, if there is wood in the adjoining areas. When you convert this area to wood, it makes the space look larger and more cohesive.

In fact, many new home buyers convert perfectly good tile [to] hardwood when they are refinishing the floors. (This of course assumes that you have plywood underneath and that your entryway is not on a cement slab). The 2nd logical choice is to install tile in the entryway as it is waterproof.

If you are in the process of selling your house, it may or may not be worth it to change this area. If your flooring is in bad condition (e.g. if tile is cracking or vinyl is peeling) and/or the space looks very dark (e.g. if you have slate tiles), it may be worth it to change, especially since this is your first impression of the house. If it’s just a small area, though, it may not make a huge difference and you may find the cost to fix a small area seems high. (Smaller jobs cost more per sf). But, if you can combine it with another project, it may be much more cost effective.


Bathrooms – This one should be obvious – tile is the preferred surface! Do not even attempt to put hardwood in a here (assuming there is a shower or bathtub). It will warp and it won’t last very long. Bathrooms are often expensive to renovate, and very often you will not get your return on investment here if you are selling.

......

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Some appliances commonly found in US homes that are not common in most countries.

Garbage Disposal Unit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_disposal_unit
"is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink's drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough—generally less than 2 mm (0.079 in)—to pass through plumbing.

Garbage disposal units are used extensively in United States households, but are far less common elsewhere."

Dedicated freezers

Yes, those things you see in liitle convenience stores (like 7/11) with ice cream in them are rather common in US homes.

Less common than chest freezers is a dedicated upright freezer.

Hot water connector to washing machines.

Washing machines in the US have a hot (and also warm) water mode. Helps clean clothes better.

Dedicated clothes dryers.

It's actually against regulations in *some* towns to hang your clothes up outside to dry.

Dishwashers

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

...continued

Refrigerators with cubed/crushed ice and cold water dispensers

It's pretty standard for US refrigerators to have two push dispensers in the door. One is for crushed/cubed ice and the other is for cold water. The refrigerator comes with water filters.

US dishwashers have a heated dry mode.

There's a heat coil in US dishwashers (not found in ones in Europe) to heat the air to dry your dishes. It can get hot enough (probably sanitizingly hot) that opening the door and attempting to grab a dish with your un-gloved hand would be a very bad idea.

There's a reason for the "dishwasher safe" markings on the bottoms of plates/cups...they could get melted.

oops! Oh well...next time be more careful.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The Anatomy of utility pipes in a US home.

A typical layout of the main utility systems in homes.
1) Natural Gas lines branch off a main gas line in the street into a meter (remotely read) and then into the basement/first floor.
2) Fully Drinkable treated Water lines branch off from a water main under the street into a meter (remotely read) and then either into the basement/first floor.
3) Electrical lines run either from utility poles (typically) or underground into a meter box located outside the home (which can be read remotely) and then into the basement/first floor main circuit breaker box (2 wires of ~120 volts each).
4) Sewage pipes extend from the home to closed sewer pipes under the road. Pressure venting is handled by air pipes extending out the roofs of all houses connecting to the sewage line in the basement/first floor.
5) Phone lines (not shown in pic) extend either from utility poles or underground into the home.
6) Cable TV/internet/phone lines (not shown in pic) run either from utility poles or underground into the basement/first floor of homes.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Natural Gas use in US homes (not applicable in some areas)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_natural_gas_consumption

The US is by far the #1 user of Natural Gas on the planet.

It may come as a surprise to many people but the US has had Natural Gas lines running to US residential homes BEFORE electrical powerplants were invented.

In the 1800's The US followed Europe's footsteps in using Natural Gas for street lights (replacing oil lamps/candles).

In the early 1800's it also was piped into homes for use in light fixtures (replacing oil lamps/candles)

The extensive Natural Gas pipeine system originally designed to bring light to American homes is now leveraged for use in:

1) Natural Gas cooktops

US cooktops are usually 4 or 5 burners

2) Natural gas ovens

Typical US ovens are 5+ cubic feet (0.141 cubic meters)

3) Natural Gas furnaces
4) Natural Gas water heaters
5) Natural Gas clothes dryers
6) Natural Gas fireplaces

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Fully drinkable treated Water use in US homes

Countries with drinkable tap water

All the piped in water flowing to US homes is drinkable without further treatment (ie. boiling or filters).

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/history.html
A Century of U.S. Water Chlorination and Treatment: One of the Ten Greatest Public Health Achievements of the 20th Century

"American drinking water supplies are among the safest in the world. The disinfection of water has played a critical role in improving drinking water quality in the United States. In 1908, Jersey City, New Jersey was the first city in the United States to begin routine disinfection of community drinking water. Over the next decade, thousands of cities and towns across the United States followed suit in routinely disinfecting their drinking water, contributing to a dramatic decrease in disease across the country.

*Per 100,000 population per year
The occurrence of diseases such as cholera and typhoid dropped dramatically. In 1900, the occurrence of typhoid fever in the United States was approximately 100 cases per 100,000 people. By 1920, it had decreased to 33.8 cases per 100,000 people. In 2006, it had decreased to 0.1 cases per 100,000 people (only 353 cases) with approximately 75% occurring among international travelers. Typhoid fever decreased rapidly in cities from Baltimore to Chicago as water disinfection and treatment was instituted. This decrease in illness is credited to the implementation of drinking water disinfection and treatment, improving the quality of source water, and improvements in sanitation and hygiene.

It is because of these successes that we can celebrate over a century of public drinking water disinfection and treatment – one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century."

There are usually water spigots on the front and back of US homes for outdoor convenience.